The Smyth surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 9,470 people carried this name — #3,741 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 31,200 people counted. That is up 2% from 9,268 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Smyth surname

A surname originating as an occupation.

Variant of Smith, from Middle English Smyth.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Smyth» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as an occupational name: ‘the smith’.

An early record he cites: Philip le Smethe, Huntingdonshire, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

His entry covers Smith, Smyth and Smythe.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 699 · public domain.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 23 people named Smyth.

Most of them — 18 — were born outside France. Those born in France came from 4 départements, most often Puy-de-Dôme.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 18
Puy-de-Dôme 2
Paris 1
Seine-Maritime 1
Yvelines 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

22 people named Smyth live in Switzerland.

They live in 3 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Zurich.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Zurich 9
Vaud 8
Neuchâtel 5

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In Argentina’s national register

At least 22 people named Smyth live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Buenos Aires Province.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Buenos Aires Province 22

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

In the Nordic population registers

66 people named Smyth is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 66

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Smyth was found among the farmers of 2 counties.

It was most frequent in Devon: 7 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 1,429. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Devon 7
Suffolk 7

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In Scotland’s registers today

Smyth was recorded 35 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 710th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 57. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

In 1790, Smyth was counted together with Smith: 5,932 families in all.

Each family is counted by its head. About 33,245 people lived in those households, 5.6 to a family on average. The census counted these spellings together: Smith, Schmidt, Shmit, Smidth, Smit, Smithe, Smitt, Smitz, Smyth. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Massachusetts 1,028
Pennsylvania 838
Connecticut 767
North Carolina 725
Virginia 425
Maryland 396
New York 383
South Carolina 380
New Hampshire 366
Vermont 257
Maine 193
Rhode Island 174

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 262 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Smyth in American newspapers,
1874–1882.

Newspaper page from Helena Weekly Herald carrying the name Smyth
Helena Weekly Herald 1882-04-06
Newspaper page from The Morning Star And Catholic Messenger carrying the name Smyth
The Morning Star And Catholic Messenger 1874-09-27
Newspaper page from The Portland Daily Press carrying the name Smyth
The Portland Daily Press 1882-03-13

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 4,765 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Smyth in Australian newspapers,
1800s–2010s.

94,471 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Smyth. The most, 12,894, date from the 1880s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Victoria, at 1.6 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Victoria 37,369
New South Wales 20,308
Queensland 18,486
South Australia 12,290
Western Australia 3,238
Tasmania 1,745
ACT (Canberra) 737
Northern Territory 156

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Smyth.

Who carried it

People named Smyth,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Henry M. Smyth d. 1898 · politician
  • Michael Smyth d. 1973 · politician
  • Thomas Johnson Smyth d. 1846 · naval officer
  • Thomas Smyth d. 1846 · naval officer
  • Mary Smyth d. 1757
  • Frances Smyth d. 1892

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Smyth,
in the records of 9 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States3,171 records

3,171 records of the Smyth name in the United States
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 982
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 873
  • Other U.S. records 1,316
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record William H. Smyth

    Born 1906 in United Kingdom. Enlisted 1943 at New York City; jeweler from Queens County, New York. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1982, buried at Calverton National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Gilbert R. Smyth

    Born 1925 in Colorado. Enlisted 1945 at Fort Logan; farmer from Sedgwick County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1999, buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Colorado.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Martha Smyth

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the Britannic from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 36; servant. From Queenstown, Ireland; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 3,171 records for Smyth in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Ramsey County, Minnesota (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia2,291 records

2,291 records of the Smyth name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 1,157
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 398
  • Other Australian records 736
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record John Smyth

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Richard Webb, sailing from Kingston in 1841. Native of Birmingham, Warwickshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1847.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Charles J. Smyth

    Died 1908 in Homoeopathic Hospital, Hobart, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1908.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Allen Blackmore Smyth

    Born 1867 in Ringarooma, Tasmania. Married 1898 in Zeehan, Tasmania, aged 30.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 2,291 records for Smyth in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Canada241 records

241 records of the Smyth name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 109
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 36
  • Other Canadian records 96
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Margret Smyth

    Came to Ontario in 1876, bound for Collingwood, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Donald Smyth

    Died 1980, aged 54; buried at St. Vital Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record George Herbert Smyth

    Buried in 1982 at Burnsland Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 91.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.

Showing 3 of 241 records for Smyth in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom60 records

60 records of the Smyth name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 37
  • Stirling Council burial records 9
  • Other British records 14
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Vera Smyth

    Buried in 1976 at Killin Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 60.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Sarah Smyth

    Will proved in 1937; of Swansea.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record William Smyth

    Buried in 1831 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 40.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Showing 3 of 60 records for Smyth in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Ireland59 records

59 records of the Smyth name in Ireland County Galway graveyard records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John Smyth

    Died 1884, aged 75; buried at Templetogher, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John Smyth

    Died 1993, aged 67; buried at Killoran, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Anne Smyth

    Died 1998, aged 92; buried at Rakerin, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 59 records for Smyth in Ireland.

Counts: Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

New Zealand38 records

38 records of the Smyth name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 34
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 2
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 2
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record William Robert Smyth

    Died 1938, aged 31; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Winifred Madeline Smyth

    Buried in 1956 at Totara Memorial Park Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 72.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Livre d’or of the French war dead, Paris
    Example: roll of the war dead
    War record W. Smyth

    New Zealand Cyclist Corps. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 38 records for Smyth in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Livre d’or of the war dead, Paris, Ministère des pensions, Archives nationales (CC0).

France6 records

6 records of the Smyth name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Kevin Patrick Smyth

    Born 1909 in Ireland; died 1993 in Bourg-la-Reine (Hauts-de-Seine).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Blanche Georgette Smyth

    Born 1894 in Le Havre (Seine-Maritime); died 1982 in Lagardelle-sur-Lèze (Haute-Garonne).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 6 records for Smyth in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Netherlands5 records

5 records of the Smyth name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 3
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 2
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Jessie Louise Smyth

    Married in 1938 in Amsterdam.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register George William Smyth

    In the population register of 's-Gravenhage; born 1878 in Londen.

    Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 5 records for Smyth in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Belgium1 record

1 record of the Smyth name in Belgium Belgian civil registers (births, marriages, deaths)
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Mary Smyth

    Died 1970 in Gent.

    Open Archives, Archief Gent (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Smyth.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Smyth is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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